Celebrate Kids, Prevent Injuries, and Save Lives on Safe Kids Day

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

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In honor of Safe Kids Day, Kate Carr, president and CEO of Safe Kids Worldwide, authored this guest post to spotlight the significance of protecting children from preventable injuries. Follow Kate Carr on Twitter at @safekidsceo.

Twenty-six years ago, Children’s National Health System started Safe Kids Worldwide to ensure no family had to endure the loss of a child due to an injury that we can predict and prevent.

Injury prevention is not about watching your children every minute of the day or securing them in bubble wrap. It’s about creating an environment where kids can explore and take chances while minimizing the risk of serious injuries and deaths.

And we know it works. Since our inception, Safe Kids has worked closely with partners to help reduce the U.S. childhood death rate from preventable injury by 55 percent.

Still, preventable injuries are the number one killer of kids in the United States and a serious problem around the globe. Every year, more than one million children around the world die of a preventable injury. Millions more are injured in ways that can affect them for a lifetime. These are more than statistics. They represent tragedies for families and communities.

What is Safe Kids Day?

There is nothing more empowering than being part of a sea of people committed to changing the world. It’s that feeling that inspired Safe Kids Worldwide to create Safe Kids Day, a day to celebrate kids, prevent injuries, and save lives.

Safe Kids Day brings together families, celebrities, donors, and communities to raise awareness and funds so more children have a chance to grow up and becomes whatever they can imagine.